Dems divided on immigration

A new push on immigration reform risks exposing deep fissures in the Democratic Party, forcing nervous lawmakers to vote on an emotional wedge issue just months before the midterm elections.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed publicly Thursday what has been discussed privately around the Capitol for days: that the House will take up an immigration bill, but only if the Senate passes one first.

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“If the Senate is ready with an immigration bill, we don’t want anyone holding it up,” Pelosi said. “We would be pleased to welcome it to the House.”

Whether an immigration bill could get through the Senate is a huge “if,” of course — just six months from the elections.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is sending his “strongest signal yet” that immigration reform is next on tap for the Senate, possibly at the expense of a climate change bill, a Democratic aide said. “Immigration is gaining steam; climate change may suffer,” the aide said.

Politically vulnerable House members aren’t looking forward to taking yet another difficult vote this year, especially after many have already put their jobs on the line voting with the speaker on health care and a cap-and-trade bill.

“We shouldn’t scrap energy; I think energy is crucial,” said Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.), who has voted with House leaders on both energy and health care. “I would not support a move to shelve energy policy,” he told POLITICO.

Aides in both the House and the Senate acknowledge that each chamber has the will to move only one piece of major, contentious legislation before the fall’s elections. When asked whether she could find the votes to pass an immigration bill, Pelosi said: “I believe so.”

Immigration is also likely to split the party along both ideological and geographic lines. “It would show fissures,” said Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.).

For Altmire, voting no on comprehensive immigration reform is a no-brainer. “It’s not a tough vote for me at all. I’m not going to vote for amnesty,” he said.

That pits him against the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — and against other vulnerable Democrats in districts with significant Hispanic populations, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).